Our 3rd Annual Holiday Trip to DL in November - November 22nd - 25th, 2013 Post #3416

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – November 18, 2011 – Part 14​

I left off back in NOS taking pictures of the Holiday decorations. As I have left off that this is my favorite land during the Holiday season. We were in NOS Royal Street taking pics of the decorations. Now back to NOS.

Christmas tree in the Court of Angels

La Mascarade d’Orleans

L’Ornement Magique Sign with some ornaments

That was it for taking pictures of the Holiday decorations at NOS that night, but I will get some more later during the trip so stay tune for more pics during the daytime at NOS.

While we were still in NOS, the popcorn stand right by the HMH had the Jack Skellington popcorn coffin.

It was getting late that night, so my friend Sara decided to call it for the night. She needed to get some sleep since she will be seeing “Twilight” movie that just came out that day and she was excited to see it tomorrow. So we parted ways and the next thing for my DA and me was the HMH. The good thing about the HMH that night is that there wasn’t a long line. So we head on over to the HMH and ride it at night. We barely ride it at night, but mostly during the morning since it does get huge crowds during the afternoon and night. I wish that WDW MK would decorate their HMH the same thing as DL, I still like the HMH at WDW MK as well.

This years gingerbread house in the dining room of the HMH.

After getting off HMH, it was time during that day to call it. So we head on out of the park. On the way out there wasn’t too many people in the park around 11pm that Friday night since everyone is already out of the park. So it was a nice walk down out of the park.

We got out of the park around 11:15pm and walked back to BWAI to call it for the night.

I got to accomplished a lot in just a half day at DL with “A Christmas Fantasy” parade, “Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks, “The Magic, The Memories and You!” with the new Holiday segment and I got to see my friend Sara at the park that night. Got to get a Dole Whip plus got to ride HMH. The next day will be even better with more things to do including the Quests, MFW with aerial photos of Cars Land, WoC with the Holiday segment, and the 2nd “A Christmas Fantasy” parade.

So stay tune tomorrow for the next part of my TR.

 

[franandaj]

Great report Bret, I am enjoing the pictures!

 

[skiingfast]

I look forward to seeing your year to year comparison of NOS decorations.

 

[tksbaskets]

WOW Bret you really packed in a lot in a half day! Thanks for sharing.

TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

Great report Bret, I am enjoing the pictures!

Thank you Allison. I still have a lot of pictures to show along comparing NOS the last few years and today. So stay tune for the NOS comparison.

I look forward to seeing your year to year comparison of NOS decorations.

It will be up shortly.

WOW Bret you really packed in a lot in a half day! Thanks for sharing.

TK

I will be busy these next two days so I won't be on my computer as much as usual. Your welcome TK.

 

[mvf-m11c]

New Orleans Square back in 2008

You can see from the 2008 pics of the Light conopy over Royal Street and the light up masks and ornaments. This was so great with all these decorations back in 2008. The only decorations that haven't change over the years were the wreath going in towards Royal Street along with necklaces and beads around NOS.

NOS in 2009

Most of Holiday decorations in NOS were the same from last year except with a few touches. I didn’t much of the back in 2008 and 2009, but they did add some touches to NOS.

NOS in 2010

As you can see from the 2010 pictures from the other two is that it doesn’t have the light canopy over Royal Street and it is more of a neon type lights on the masks and ornaments on the railings. It was completely dark after all those other years and was disappointed that NOS was so dark last year. The railing Christmas lights over CO was also taken away from 2009.

NOS this year which was my pics from last week.

This year, the management has really toned down the Holiday decorations this year from last year in my opinion. Instead of the light canopy they added a string of light bulbs over the street which is not the same as the light canopy. They took away the light up mask and ornaments on the railings above Royal Street. They did add more masks, but it almost seem like DL is tuning down the decorations every year and less attractive.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – November 19, 2011 – Part 1​

Now it is the 2nd day of my trip and one of my favorite parts of the trip which is the morning. I always love going in the morning since the park will be less crowded until it gets closer to the afternoon.

My DA and I have gotten up at 7:30am and head on over to the park around 8:00am. It was a MM day and most of the people that weren’t part of MM were already in the park. Now it was time to head on back to the tree, wreath, and garland quests on MS. There were quite a number of people on MS, a little bit more then usual during when the park opens at 8am. It didn’t change any plans for me and my DA.

MS Pictures

When we got to Tomorrowland, my DA wanted to do BLAB. I haven’t done BLAB in quite awhile and it was nice to go on the ride. When we got off the ride, I had 659,100 points which is below average for me. It was a good score since I haven’t been on the ride in over a few months. My DA had 102,300 points that day was her best score. I was happy that she got past the 100,000 mark on the ride.

On the way out of BLAB, we haven’t done IASWH so that was our next ride since I like to ride IASWH. On the way, the queue for ST was already at 30 minute wait and the queue for BLAB started to pick up.

On the way towards IASWH the Matterhorn looks great coming from the Hub.

Monorail Mark VII Red by the Matterhorn

We got over to IASWH and it was just a walk on the ride. It is always great to go on a ride with a short wait time in the morning like IASWH. When we got to the queue, we got a front spot of the boat which is good since I was videotaping.

Here is my video of IASWH. It’s a Small World Holiday at Disneyland 11/19/11

Here are the pics from my video that I took on IASWH

The Snowman at the end of the ride is the newest installation to IASWH. In the past, it has been a Christmas tree. This time they added a snowman which is nice.

That’s it for this post and I will get back to it tomorrow or this morning which ever you would call it.

 

[skiingfast]

I think the lights and decoration in NOS look a little tailored to each house. Kind of like a nieghborhood would. I don't think it is bad and maybe a reason the toned down the lights above the roadway. I do like how it was a few years ago, that was great.

 

[tksbaskets]

Such wonderful morning pictures! I would just be jumping for joy if I got your score on Buzz! Your DA ROCKED! Did you manage to go on TSMM this trip?

I like the snowman in IASWH too. Looking forward to seeing it myself. Your trip report is getting me excited!

TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

I think the lights and decoration in NOS look a little tailored to each house. Kind of like a nieghborhood would. I don't think it is bad and maybe a reason the toned down the lights above the roadway. I do like how it was a few years ago, that was great.

The Holiday theme for NOS is great every year, but I am getting tired at DL management changing the decorations with cost saving decorations. The light canopy over NOS in the past was great and made Royal Street so bright and enjoyable. Now the last two years it just looks so dark on Royal Street.

Such wonderful morning pictures! I would just be jumping for joy if I got your score on Buzz! Your DA ROCKED! Did you manage to go on TSMM this trip?

I like the snowman in IASWH too. Looking forward to seeing it myself. Your trip report is getting me excited!

TK

Thank you TK. I know we talked about those scores when I post them on my TR that it is a good score. But I kept trying to push myself to get a better score then the 2,000,000+ one I got last year in August. She was happy about her score and she knew what targets to hit while we were on the ride. I still can't get the Zurg secret target to light up which is 100,000 points. Maybe I need to rid it more in the afternoon then in the morning. I didn't do TSMM since the queues were just crazy all week. The shortest wait time I have seen when going by it and on Mousewait was at 30+. Even during the rope drop that the line was all the way towards California Screamin.

The snowman at IASWH is very nice and it light up. A nice upgrade for the ride. I'm getting excited for you too since you are only a month away till your Holiday trip.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – November 19, 2011 – Part 2​

When we got out of the tunnel of IASWH, I had to get the pictures of the topiary animals outside the ride. I’m always impressed of the topiary animals outside and it was still a nice day which was just a little cloudy.

Ward Kimball

A Wreath on the IASWH work station

We got off IASWH and walked up the walkway. But on the way, I had to get more of the topiary animals from that spot.

After we left IASWH, my DA wanted to go on FNSV. So we head on over to Tomorrowland. On the way, the park was still partially empty and that was a good sign for us since we knew that the park will be crowded later during the day. What do you expect on a Saturday when it is on a weekend.

Mark VII Orange

When we got over to FNSV we only had to wait about 5 minute until we got on the submarine. Even during a MM, the wait time for FNSV was not that long and it was nice to ride it that morning. We rode on 707 Neptune. The ride has always been the same and enjoyable to look through the portholes of the subs and see the history of this ride.

After we got off the FNSV, it was time to head on the monorail which is my favorite ride at DL. I can’t imagine myself not riding the monorail at DL since it was my favorite ride since I was a young kid. Just like all the other rides, if you get there early you can get on it in a short time. But I like to ride the monorail to see the whole resort and the construction site of BVS. We want to get the back side of the monorail since we were the only ones in the station. So we were guarantee a spot in the back. So our monorail will be Monorail Red which is the first Mark VII series monorail to come in service since 2008.

The view from the TL Monorail station is great especially looking at the Matterhorn.

Monorail Mark VII red came in the station and we only had to wait awhile until we boarded the monorail.

The next post will be the pics from the back side of Monorail Red. So I’ll be back tomorrow for the next update.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – November 19, 2011 – Part 3​

We got to ride in the back and by ourselves. It was always nice to have the backside of the monorail to ourselves. So here are my pics from my Nikon from the back to the DTD Monorail station. Also the pics from BVS which I like to take when I ride the monorail.

We left the TL station Monorail Orange was already in the park.

DCA was empty since it the park didn’t open yet.

Now the pics of BVS under construction

We got to the DTD monorail station and there was a young family that joined us in the back when we got to the station. So the two of us went back to the TL Monorail station and get some good pics of DL.

The crowd level at the turnstile was really long when we were riding the monorail. After seeing the crowd, I knew the park will be crowded that day.

FNSV dock

After we got off the monorail, it was already 9:20am that morning and it was time to head on over to DCA and get our FP for WoC that Saturday night. We were planning on seeing WoC so we had to get over at DCA early to get the blue FP. I wanted to get the blue FP since I want to watch it from the fire hydrant spot. Later that morning, it started to get cloudy which is always a concern when you are in the park.

On the way, I had to get some pics of any Holiday decorations. Also on the way I had to get pics of the flowers around the Hub. This is for you Deej.

We walked down MS and out of the park. The Omni bus look great with it Holiday decorations.

More and more people have started to show up at DL

The firehouse

City Hall

Before we left, my DA wanted to ride the Lily Belle so we head on over to the MS RR station and asked a CM conductor if we could ride the Lily Belle. Luckily, they had an opening at 1pm. So we will be back at 1pm that Saturday to ride the Lily Belle. She was so excited to get the chance to ride the Lily Belle. This will be my 2nd time to ride the Lily Belle since August 2009 when I was there during the inaugural D23 Expo.

We head on out of the park and on over to DCA. That is it for this morning and will be right back later tonight.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – November 19, 2011 – Part 4​

After leaving DL around 9:30am that Saturday morning, the two of us now head on over to DCA. On the way over to DCA, the queue was not that crowded that morning and it was perfect to head on over and got our FPs for the 8:00pm WoC show. At least the turnstiles were not that crowded that morning. On the way in the park, I had to get the pictures of garlands on the BVS turnstile.

Going down the side walkway into DCA, they had the Christmas wreaths out on the walkway walls. So I had to get everyone on the way before we head on in the park.

When we got in DCA from the side entrance until BVS is complete, we head on over to GRR and get our FPs. On the way, there were quite a bit of people in the queue for the WoC FP. But I only had to wait about 1 minute and got the blue FP for the 8pm show which I have expected.

Then we head on over to PP where we had to wait awhile until it was time when the park opened at 10am. I am sorry that I didn’t get any pictures of the waiting area since it was close to opening time.

It was 10am and most of the people were running on over to the bridge towards TSMM. When we were walking down with all the other people I knew that they were on there way towards TSMM. So on the way down PP, I had to get some pics of the Holiday decorations.

Some nice Holiday decorations colors where Duffy meet and greet area

I didn’t get too many pics of the PP tree, but I did get it later during the day. Here are some pics of the wreaths.

Over at TSMM, the waiting time was already at 35 minute wait and the queue is just getting longer. So that was an easy decision for the two of us and not to ride TSMM. I know TK that you want me to ride TSMM, but it was just too long and would cost us a lot of valuable time in the morning. I should one day try it during the afternoon when the line is shorter.

So we head on over to MFW and get my usual pictures of Cars Land which is suppose to open this summer. I just can’t wait to see it up close in person when it opens during the summertime.

This will be it for tonight and I will be back tomorrow of the aerial photos of Cars Land and the rest of the DLR.

 

[skiingfast]

The tail of the monorail gave some great shots. It's an interesting perspective. Last time I rode there it was at night so not as much to see.

Look forward to the Lilly Belle with your new camera.

 

[tksbaskets]

Hi Bret,
Loved your installment and the pictures of the Christmas decorations on PP. I laughed out reading your TR this morning. When you made the statement about TSMM. I was thinking "WHAT?? He didn't ride it??" I guess if time is short 35 minutes is a long wait. This is why my family will be standing at the rope drop at 10 am many mornings to avoid long lines. That and at the end of the day. You'll have to read my trip report to find out how many times we ride!

Perhaps I'll try riding MFW in the non-rocking car this year. I've never done it. Do you think I'd be OK if I'm a little afraid of heights? Not bad afraid but do not really like ferris wheels that stop while you rock on top of the world.

TK

 

[deejdigsdis]

Hi Bret! Just joining in for your holiday trip. I see our trips overlapped a bit. I went on an unexpected trip with my husband for 2 days, our first day being Nov. 21st! I am enjoying your pictures a lot.

Hi Bret,
Loved your installment and the pictures of the Christmas decorations on PP. I laughed out reading your TR this morning. When you made the statement about TSMM. I was thinking "WHAT?? He didn't ride it??" I guess if time is short 35 minutes is a long wait. This is why my family will be standing at the rope drop at 10 am many mornings to avoid long lines. That and at the end of the day. You'll have to read my trip report to find out how many times we ride!

Perhaps I'll try riding MFW in the non-rocking car this year. I've never done it. Do you think I'd be OK if I'm a little afraid of heights? Not bad afraid but do not really like ferris wheels that stop while you rock on top of the world.

TK

Happy December TK! Have you changed your Disney calendar yet? As far as the non-rocking cars on MFW go...I think you will be fine. I avoided riding it for the same reasons...I hate that rocking feeling when you're on top of a ferris wheel. This ride isn't like that at all to me. I find it really smooth. It also helps to be sitting in a large enclosed cage.

 

[tksbaskets]

Hi Bret! Just joining in for your holiday trip. I see our trips overlapped a bit. I went on an unexpected trip with my husband for 2 days, our first day being Nov. 21st! I am enjoying your pictures a lot.

Happy December TK! Have you changed your Disney calendar yet? As far as the non-rocking cars on MFW go...I think you will be fine. I avoided riding it for the same reasons...I hate that rocking feeling when you're on top of a ferris wheel. This ride isn't like that at all to me. I find it really smooth. It also helps to be sitting in a large enclosed cage.

Hi deej! So fun that you squeezed in a trip with your sweetie Any chance you may be sharing a few pictures with your DIS friends?

I LOVE my calendar and think of you and Sherry each time I look at it. How frantically we made them and then waited for them to arrive. Good cyber times!

Thanks for the info on the fun wheel. I think the big steel cage will help reduce any anxiety (that and my DH won't be able to laugh and rock the car as I clutch the lap bar). Perhaps that is where the anxiety came from?

 

[mvf-m11c]

The tail of the monorail gave some great shots. It's an interesting perspective. Last time I rode there it was at night so not as much to see.

Look forward to the Lilly Belle with your new camera.

The back side of the monorail is one of my favorite spot to ride when I am on the monorail. The pictures turned out well and I wish I got more pics of BVS construction site, but those walls really made a difference when I took the pictures. I did ride the monorail the last day so I will have to show you those later on.

I will have to save my pictures and the story of the Lilly Belle later on my TR. Our CM conductor was really funny and great.

Hi Bret,
Loved your installment and the pictures of the Christmas decorations on PP. I laughed out reading your TR this morning. When you made the statement about TSMM. I was thinking "WHAT?? He didn't ride it??" I guess if time is short 35 minutes is a long wait. This is why my family will be standing at the rope drop at 10 am many mornings to avoid long lines. That and at the end of the day. You'll have to read my trip report to find out how many times we ride!

Perhaps I'll try riding MFW in the non-rocking car this year. I've never done it. Do you think I'd be OK if I'm a little afraid of heights? Not bad afraid but do not really like ferris wheels that stop while you rock on top of the world.

Thank you TK. I knew that you were going to talk about TSMM if I have rode it that morning. But the line was just really long and we were not close to the rope drop. We were at the backside of the light tower facing towards the bridge of PP. If you are planning on getting a WoC FP that day when you do the rope drop at DCA, hope you and your family can do the fire hydrant spot. I believe we have talked about this before that you were thinking of trying this spot. I will definitely read your TR and see how many times you and your family will ride TSMM. Maybe when I go back to DL one day except during Cars Land opening, I will try to ride TSMM as much as I can.

I believe you will be fine if you ride the non-swinging gondola. The swinging one when I rode it when DCA first opened back in 2001 was just crazy and I haven't rod the swinging gondola ever since. Even after all these years, I have never went back on the swinging gondola. The non-swinging gondola is not that bad as a lot of people would think, it will do a little rock when it stops and loads & unloads the guests. It is not that bad, if you have other people with you and balance the gondola, it won't be as rocky up in the air. The view is just so unbelievable and you have to see it in person then just pictures. That's why I do MFW and get those great pictures of Cars Land and the DLR. I would bring a jacket since it can be really cold at the top. Hope you ride MFW and you will love to see Cadillac Range and the rest of Cars Land.

I will have the next pictures from MFW up shortly so stay tune.

Hi Bret! Just joining in for your holiday trip. I see our trips overlapped a bit. I went on an unexpected trip with my husband for 2 days, our first day being Nov. 21st! I am enjoying your pictures a lot.

It's nice to hear from you again Deej. I hope everything is fine with you and your family. Thank you for joining along my holiday trip. It's nice to hear that you went on an unexpected trip. Did you take any pictures during your trip and if so I can't wait to see them. Glad to hear that you like my pictures from my new DSLR camera.

The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – November 19, 2011 – Part 5​

Now it is time for the aerial photos from MFW. As for the followers on my previous TRs, I like to go on MFW and get pictures of the DLR from the sky. The last time I rode MFW was back in September and there was a lot of changes ever since. I might have to do two posts from MFW since I must have taken about over 100 photos. Here are my photos from MFW.

Cadillac Range looks great. You can look at the pictures that the construction crew is now working on the back side of the mountain from MFW.

You can see part of the Cozy Cone Motel under construction

You can see part of Flo’s V8 Cafe

After taking some pics of Cars Land, now it was time to get GRR and SM

Back to Cars Land

Flo’s V8 Café and you can see the leaning tower of tires at Luigi’s Cassa Della Tires shop

Cadillac Range looks great and coming along

That’s it for this post and I will be back for the next post from MFW.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – November 19, 2011 – Part 6​

Back to more pictures of the aerial photos of Cars Land. When we got up higher in the air, it started to get a little cold. Not very cold but cold. It is always great to see the park from the sky. Now back to the pictures of Cars Land.

Mater's Junkyard Jamboree

There is still some work on Cadillac Range, but it looks great

You can barely see the platform of Mater's Junkyard Jamboree

Another look at the Cozy Cone Motel under construction

The construction crew started to fix the back side of Cadillac Range. Before it was still when you can see it from PP.

You can see Radiator Springs Courthouse

Lizzie's Curious Shop

You can now see Flo's V8 Cafe, Lizzie's Curious Shop and Luigi's Casse Della Tires Shop with the leaning Tower of Tires

I will be back for more since I still have more pics from MFW.